Porter's guru aims to net City cash lift

Porter's guru aims to net City cash lift

By
Dave Flett

PREMIERSHIP stars Mark Viduka, Gaizka Mendieta and Bolo Zenden are among the big international names who have added their weight to an exciting York City fundraising drive.

Viduka, Mendieta and Zenden have all donated signed football boots to an on-line sports memorabilia auction that has been arranged by City goalkeeper Chris Porter's personal coach Sergio "Slim" Peretti.

There are currently 20 lots on the auction, which is continually growing, and a full list of items can be accessed by registering free of charge on Slim's new web-site www.myfootballcoach.co.uk Slim describes his role in football as a "fix-it man" and, in the past, his clients have included Middlesbrough duo Franck Queudrue and Massimo Maccarone, plus Liverpool's Dutch winger Zenden.

Porter and City top scorer Andy Bishop have also donated signed shirts to be auctioned, alongside other Premiership, international and Minstermen memorabilia, including autographed shirts, boots, photographs and man-of-the-match bottles of champagne.

Slim has made a personal donation of £200 to the cause and persuaded three other Middlesbrough-based businesses to match his gesture, taking the amount already raised to £800 before any bids are taken into account.

His idea for an on-line auction came after a discussion with Porter about the KitKat Crescent outfit's financial struggles and he has promised that every penny raised will be handed over to the club.

Northallerton-based Slim said: "This was all Chris' idea and the main reason players like Massimo Maccarone and Bolo Zenden were moved to help is that they truly recognise the importance that clubs like York have in their communities. All the players who have donated items remember where they came from and all want the same chance to be given to others.

"Chris often talks very highly of Billy McEwan and about how he is trying to do things professionally and get the team playing attractive football. He has also said how the financial constraints are hindering Billy.

"We discussed the problems with the financing of a youth team and of the bad condition of the pitch. Chris also told me of the amazing response of the club's fans and how much he so wants to lead this team back into the Football League as soon as possible.

"I come to as many games as I can to analyse Chris and am truly amazed by the fantastic family atmosphere and at the sheer passion for keeping the famous club afloat, which has moved me to act.

"I'm hoping this auction can enable us to give Billy a nice, fat cheque."

Personal football coach Slim offers his clients one-to-one advice on how to improve their own performance, as well as having a positive influence on those around them.

He also works with footballers in the gym. About his role, he said: "Ferrari won six consecutive Formula 1 constructor titles because of their never-ending quest for higher levels of performance through continuous self-analysis and I always try to adopt the same approach. The questions all footballers should be asking themselves is how can I improve and what more can I do?

"They need the fighting spirit which defines people like Roy Keane, Vinnie Jones, Gennaro Gattuso, Stuart Pearce and Chris Porter. It is heart, hunger, desire and passion that makes these people so very, very special."

Slim adds that former Darlington 'keeper Porter is the example by which he gauges all his clients because of his dedication to self- improvement.

He explained: "Chris is the gold standard to which I measure every other footballer I have ever coached because he has heart, hunger, desire and passion every single minute of his life.

"Chris has trained with me in the gym for years now and no other goalkeeper in football has his physique. He is one of those players who hasn't had the luck, or the proper week-in, week-out goalkeeping training simply because of the very severe financial restrictions that clubs like York have yet, through thick and thin and totally skint, he has continued to believe in himself 100 per cent.

"He was born to lead and motivate and born to be a captain. He just needs someone to give him that chance.

"He issues commands and motivates his team-mates even before the first whistle has gone and also turns to the crowd to get the passion going.

"He communicates with his defence and we have worked a lot on when he says things, as well as how, with hand gestures that are designed to be crystal clear.

"He lives every single minute of the game to see whether he can make a real difference to the outcome and tries to help ensure that his team doesn't make mistakes at critical times before half-time and towards the end of games.

"I'm not saying Chris is perfect or that he doesn't make mistakes. Of course he does, but whatever the outcome, Chris will always be back to work with me on a Monday asking how can I improve and what more can I do?"

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